Flip Side Of The Coin

It had been a memorable night for me, and for a long time after that, Austin's face stuck in my mind like a banner.

I kind of didn't want to lose it, though. I love staring at it, and even though I knew I got sadder every tine I saw him but didn't get any closer, it still comforted me to a very great extent.

Two weeks after the night of the thanksgiving, was the full moon, and then, Alpha Austin was expected to find his mate. Naturally, Omegas would be excluded from the event, especially since they didn't want the Alpha blood tainted.

I spiraled further into depression. The love I have held on to longer than I have held on to anything was about to fade into nothing but dust.

I hated it.

Even more since I wouldn't even attend it.

All I could do was watch from the sidelines, and help fix the ceremony.

"Eve?"

She was my friend, who practically lived with me.

"What now, Hazel? You want to keep crying about how you have seen the alpha and is somehow crazily falling for him that you always cry yourself to sleep? I mean, I am tired of hearing this."

"That wasn't what I was about to say. I am going out. To take a breath."

She sighed and came towards me, then gently placed her hand on my shoulder.

"He is going to have a mate soon, a mate that can never be you. No matter what you do, it can't be you."

"I know." I said, nodding. I could feel the tears brewing at the back of my eyes again. It was a funny feeling. I have only seen him once. Just once. The rest had been in my dreams and daydreams.

"I am sorry, Hazel. You have to forget him. Please."

"I will." I sniffed and stood, adjusting my overalls. "Let me take a walk."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

I shook my head. I wanted to be alone.

"I want to be alone."

She nodded. "Steer clear of the alpha, though."

I smiled. "I will try."

I walked out of the small basement we have been given in the pack house. We, the omegas lived in small rooms in the pack house. Only the alpha, beta and gamma had their own house's, the alpha's standing out. It was a massive mansion, one we could only stare at from afar, but could never come close to.

I walked farther away from the pack house, towards the more unfrequented bushes. There was a small lake there. One that was almost always empty, and it offered the serenity my troubled heart needed right now.

I walked slowly, watching the skies. It looked like it was going to rain. I loved the rain.

I made my way through the shrubs, my feet familiar with it. I had found myself coming here more frequently in the past two weeks that I had my entire life.

"I am sorry, but I don't want to invest too much before the mating ceremony."

I stopped on my tracks, as I saw two people, standing on the side of the lake. I moved away a bit, so I could get a clearer view and the person I saw made my breath stop in my wind pipe.

Austin was standing, his hand holding the girl's shoulders, his expression confused.

He didn't hold the coolness he exuded the first time I saw him, but he was just as gorgeous.

"What are you saying? You don't want to invest what?"

She gently removed his hands from her shoulder. He looked down at it, his expression becoming even more confused.

"Why are you doing this, Catherine?"

She shrugged. "Your mate could be anyone. If I am your mate, then.."

"Then what? You are breaking up with me because you are not sure if you are my mate or not? Catherine, we've been together since we were both sixteen."

"Doesn't mean we are mates, Austin."

Austin recoiled, the way his heart was breaking showing in his face and in his blood red eyes. Moon Goddess, this is the man I have wanted ever since the first day I set my eyes on him, how could you let another woman break him this way?

"Don't give me that expression. Whatever happens happens. But I have always tried to keep my feelings for you at bay for this day. It will be best if we don't see each other till after you find your mate. Whoever that is."

"Catherine." He said, stopping her from walking away from him. He pulled her to him, hugging her tightly. I could see how hard he was trying to hold on to her, and whatever they shared. He was giving his all into that hug, like his life depended on it. She didn't hug him back, and after some time, he realized that, and let her go.

"Don't walk away, Catherine. I could leave whoever my mate is for you."

"And my mate? I am a werewolf. I will not leave my mate for anyone else. That is how loyal we are meant to be."

The words hurt me too. Here he was, laying his heart out in front of her, ready to do anything she wanted, but she used in to insult his loyalty.

His face hardened, his eyes becoming cold. It felt like seeing a man go through the first three stages of grief.

"Catherine, if you dare walk away from me right now, I won't ever, ever let you come back to me, even if you turn out to  be my mate in the end. I will reject you with the same disloyalty you accuse me of."

She shrugged. "Then so be it."

He didn't try to stop her from leaving this time and she walked away, her black hair bouncing as she did.

He stood there, his eyes dark and heavy. He looked tired, like he had given his all and it had exhausted him. Like her leaving had drained the life out of him. Like he didn’t wish to exist anymore.